of the Union. The resolutions that were adopted on the concluding day of the meeting, Sunday, 30 May, had a clear stamp of Joshi’s economy-centered thinking. The very first resolution stated, ‘This Union condemns the Government policy of denying the farmers the right price for their produce.’ Another important resolution was, ‘Government should remove all restrictions on storage, processing, trading and exporting of farm produce. There should be no restrictions on farmers adopting technology from overseas. Farmers should be free to import machinery for such improvements.’ After the meeting had formally ended, the Union had organized a grand procession through the town of Khanna. It terminated on the grounds of Arya High School where a mass meeting was held. About 30,000 farmers attended. It was here that Joshi delivered his first speech in Hindi at a public meeting. At the outset he paid glowing tributes to Shahid Bhagat Singh. He added emotionally, ‘Very close to my farm is a place called Rajgurunagar. This is the same Rajguru who supported Bhagat Singh in his revolutionary activities till the end of his life. Therefore Punjab is not a strangers to us nor are we stranger to Punjab. Our relationship is age-old and we are here to revive that relationship. Punjab is our elder brother.’ Everyone present was enamoured by his thirty five minute speech. His speeches over the next four days were equally wellreceived. Joshi had long wished to visit the Punjab Agriculture University near Ludhiana. That wish was fulfilled here. This university and its library in particular were renowned throughout Asia. It was a coincidence that while he was visiting this library someone showed him a copy of Indian Express, Chandigarh edition, of that day. On the first page was Joshi’s large photo along with a detailed report of his speech at Khanna. The next day chief reporter of that paper Vinod Mishra came over to meet Joshi in Punjab
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